Rare early 19th century Indian linen and wool work sampler by Lois Grice aged 15 - 1829. This quirky sampler is just delightful with neat stitch work throughout. The upper section of the linen is stitched with a central Tree of Knowledge, complete with entwined serpent and Adam and Eve standing beneath its fruit laden branches. There is a carnation flanked by a heart and stag above the tree followed by a dog, flower basket, floral motif and fruit basket, whilst Adam and Eve have a floral motif next to them. Both figures then have a carnation urn flanked by a butterfly and lion nearby with an owl and bird standing on the upper side blooms of the urn. The lower section of the linen contains the date of 1829 and Lois's details with a central temple below with a bird standing on three of its towers. There is a woman standing to the left of the temple with a large flower basket beside her whilst her husband stands to the right of the temple with a fruit basket and two birds above his hat. The details of the temple - Missionary Temple of Guggernaut (Juggernaut) in Orisa (Orissa) in the Bay of Bengal - run across the bottom edge of the linen, then the whole piece is surrounded by an unusual and highly decorative floral border.
The linen has overall discolouration consistent with its age with a few small areas of faint staining. The colours of the wool are good with some small areas of stitch loss. The last photo is of the reverse of the sampler and indicates how the colours would have looked when Lois first stitched it.
Measures 16 1/4" x 16 1/4"
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT I HAVE USED A RELATIVELY NEW CAMERA TO TAKE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS AND I AM STRUGGLING WITH THE COLOUR BALANCE (something I'm STILL continuing to work on!!) AS SUCH, SOME OF MY PHOTOS APPEAR SOMEWHAT DARK OR HAVE A SLIGHTLY FIERY OR YELLOWISH LOOK TO THEM WHICH IS NOT THE CASE, IT'S JUST MY INCOMPETENCE!